New challenge: Newly formed mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (left) are going great guns and it has given Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (pic, below) the motivation to up their level as well.
PETALING JAYA: Independent mixed doubles shuttler Tan Kian Meng believes the rise of Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei will motivate him to step out of his comfort zone.
World No. 48 Tang Jie-Ee Wei have made a great start since they formed their partnership in November by winning the Inter–national Challenge titles in Bangladesh and Iran. They also finished as the runners-up at the Malaysian International Challenge.
They have stunned a few higher ranked pairs including compatriots and world No. 6 Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and Indonesia’s No. 14 Rehan Naufal-Lisa Ayu before losing to Thailand’s No. 4 Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai in the third round of the Malaysian Open last month.
Kian Meng, who has lost to Tang Jie-Ee Wei before, believes that their surge will benefit him and the other mixed doubles pairs in the country.
“Actually, I’m quite happy to see Tang Jie-Ee Wei bloom because this is a good situation for us,” said Kian Meng.
“We were always in our comfort zone and seeing them move up will push us to do better.
“If we want Malaysia to have a better future in this sport, we cannot have only one or two top pairs in the country, so juniors have to step up.
“Once the juniors do so, there will be enough sparring partners for top players and the healthy competition will motivate us to do better.
“Whether we are BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) or independent players, we’re all representing our country and it’s important to have the fighting spirit in us.’’
Kian Meng-Pei Jing will join hands with Tang Jie-Ee Wei to compete in the mixed doubles event of the Asian Mixed Team Championships in Dubai, starting on Tuesday.
He hopes to maintain their form that won them the team event gold at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last July.
“I’m grateful that BAM selected me and Pei Jing to participate, so we will do our best,” said Kian Meng.
“Hopefully, we can bring the Commonwealth Games momentum to Dubai and perform better.
The others in the team are Lee Zii Jia, Leong Jun Hao (men’s singles); Goh Jin Wei, Wong Ling Ching (women’s singles); Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (men’s doubles) and Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah; Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee (women’s doubles).
Malaysia are in Group B with India, Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
